Photochemical iodine laser

ABSTRACT

The incorporation of a free radical source in an iodine laser for the purpose of removing iodine in its ground state as well as iodine molecules that serve as quenchers of excited iodine. The pumping light that excites the iodine laser also photolyses the free radical source to produce more free radicals at the same time that the excited iodine is produced.

l] States atent [191 1 3,842,364

Srinivasan Oct. 15, 1974 PI-IOTOCHEMICAL IODINE LASER vol. QE-6, no. 3, March 1970, p. 186. QC 447 I7. [75] Inventor: Rangaswamy Srinivasan, Ossining,

NY. Primary Examiner-John K. Corbin Assistant ExaminerR. J. Webster [73] Assrgnee: International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk NY. Attorney, Agent, or Firm George Baron [22] Filed: Feb. 23, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. N0.: 335,407

The incorporation of a free radical source in an iodine laser for the purpose of removing iodine in its ground ['52] U.S. Cl. 331/945, 330/43 State as we" as iodine molecules that Serve as quench, [51] II It. Cl H015 3/22 ers of excited iodine h pumping light that excites [58] new of Search 33 1/945? 330/43 the iodine laser also photolyses the free radical source to produce more free radicals at the same time that [56] References Cited y OTHER PUBLICATIONS Giuliano et al., IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics,

the excited iodine is produced.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PHOTOCHEMICAL IODINE LASER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The excited iodine atom l (hereinafter referred to as l*) in a lasing cavity is produced normally by the reaction CF l+hv' CF;,'+I*. The reaction also produces iodine molecules, the latter being the quenchers of the excited iodine producing the lasing. This inven- 3. the free radical source is also photolysed when the iodine laser is pumped so that more free radicals are produced.

Known iodine lasers have as their active ingredient, perfluoroalkyl iodides or alkyl iodides. The above desirable features not only increase the energy of the output pulse of the laser but also help to sustain the laser pulse for longer periods of time.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a schematic showing of an iodine laser.

FIG. 2 shows the manner in which the iodine and free radical source is introduced into the laser cavity.

FIG. 3 is a plot of relative light intensity of the laser versus time of duration of the pulse.

FIG. 4 is a table comparing relative intensity of laser as a function of pressure of .the added free radical.

As seen in FIG. 1, the laser cavity comprises an elliptical body 2, whose inner surface 4 is highly reflective of light coming from a flashlamp 6 placed at one of the foci of such ellipse. At the other focus of the elliptical shaped body 2 is placed a transparent tube 8 which carries the iodine that is to lase as 'well as the free radical that will enhance lasing. As seen in FIG. 2, the elliptical body 2 is supported in a housing 10 and the transparent tube 8 allows for entrance and exit of the required materials into the laser cavity. It should be understood, that although a mirrorless cavity is shown, any other cavity, such as a Fabry-Perot cavity, could be substituted for that shown in FIG. 1 without departing from the spirit of this invention. A suitable detector 12, such as an indium antimonide detector, was connected to a Tektronix 555 oscilloscope to monitor the lasing output.

In prior art references to the photochemical iodine laser, the basic reactions that take place are and I l* I+l1v (laser) By introducing CF;,[ and Hexafluoroazomethane (HFAM), both of which were degassed at liquid nitrogen temperature before use, into tube 10 and then actuating flashlamp 6, a substantial increase in the intensity of the iodine laser was detected as compared with the intensity of the iodine laser without the addition of the free radical.

While almost any free radical is believed beneficial. sources of CE; radicals which can be added to the iodides in the laser before photolysis include CF,,NNCF CF COCF and CF NO. Methyl radicals are equally beneficial as additives and recommended CH radical sources are azomethane, acetone and CH NO. In one instance, a sample of CF 1, at a pressure of 40 Torr, was introduced into the laser cavity and flashlamp 6 emitted a 20p. sec. pulse width, resulting in a 1.3 micron laser pulse, due to the iodine atoms, having an energy of 265 millijoules. An addition of CF NN CF at a pres sure of 10 Torr into the tube 8 increased the laser output, when pumped by flashlamp 6, to 360 millijoules andwhen CN NN CF was introduced into the laser cavity at a pressure of 20 Torr, the laser output was 460 millijoules.

Table I (FIG. 4) summarizes the results of lasing when CF I is maintained at 40 Torr whereas the pressure of additive HFAM is changed from 0 to 30 Torr. Table I indicates that the total energy emitted by the iodine laser reaches a maximum at about 20 Torr of HFAM and diminishes thereafter with increasing pressure. It is believed that maximum decomposition of the HFAM occurs at about 20 Torr, accounting for such maximum energy output. As seen in FIG. 3, the duration of the pulse increases with the additive HFAM.

While the theoretical explanation thatfollows is not to be relied upon'as being wholly descriptive of why the .invention causes the improved lasing characteristics observed, it is believed to be a reasonable explanation of the observed facts. Equations (1) and (2) noted hereinabove apply to the basic iodine laser using no ad'- ditives. When an additive, such as CF3NNCF3 is used, then Reaction (4) removes molecular iodine from the system and thus scavenges a powerful quencher of I*. This asset is somewhat offset by the introduction of one atom of I which would deter the build-up of a population inversion. However, this is a relatively slow process and would-be of importance towards the end of the pumping flash.

Equation (5) is a desirable reaction in that it serves to sustain the population inversion and increase the duration of the lasing pulse as well as the presence of CF;, radicals.

Another mode of action of HFAM is as a trap for CF radicals derived from itself as well as from CF 1 as is seen in the reactions Since the absorption of HFAM is weaker than that of CF 1, it is expected that at high CF 1 pressure the photodissociation of HFAM will be efficient and its effect will be predominantly as a trap for CE; radicals. Under these conditions, the output of the laser is diminished and the effect persists over the entire duration of the lasing pulse.

For low CF 1 concentration, the addition of HFAM (4 parts CF -,l to 1 part HFAM) augments the laser output by about 40 percent and the effect increases with increasing HFAM pressure. This is attributable to the complete decomposition of HFAM, leading to an increase in the concentration of CF radicals. At a ratio of CF;,I:HFAM of 4:3, the output of the laser starts to drop off (although it is still greater than for pure CF 1 at an identical pressure), because the HFAM is not totally dissociated and the undecomposed material offsets the beneficial effect of CF It is thereforeessential to optimize the pressure of HFAM to the reaction conditions.

What is claimed is:

1. A photochemical laser including an active material in a lasing cavity and optical pumping means for exciting said active material, the improvement comprising the use of perfluoromethyl iodide as the active medium and an additive of hexafluoroazomethane to said active material so that both said active material and said additive are photolyzed simultaneously by the operation of said optical pump. 

1. A PHOTOCHEMICAL LASER INCLUDING AN ACTIVE MATERIAL IN A LASING CAVITY AND OPTICAL PUMPING MEANS FOR EXCITING SAID ACTIVE MATERIAL, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING THE USE OF PERFLUOROMETHYL IODIDE AS THE ACTIVE MEDIUM AND AN ADDITIVE OF HEXAFLUOROAZOMETHANE TO SAID ACTIVE MATERIAL SO THAT BOTH SAID ACTIVE MATERIAL AND SAID ADDITIVE ARE PHOTOLYZED SIMULTANEOUSLY BY THE OPERATION OF SAID OPTICAL PUMP. 